Over 170 Venezuelan migrants, deported to Guantanamo under Trump's immigration crackdown, return home.

A plane carrying 177 Venezuelan migrants, who were detained at Guantanamo Bay after being deported from the United States, arrived in Venezuela on Thursday, significantly reducing the number of migrants held at the naval base following Donald Trump’s presidency.

According to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the migrants were first flown to Honduras before being transferred to Venezuela.

During Trump’s administration, hundreds of migrants were sent to Guantanamo Bay as part of his strict immigration policies. However, most have since been relocated due to concerns over the legality of the practice. The base, located in Cuba, is infamous for detaining prisoners under the US-led “war on terror.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has claimed that some Venezuelan migrants sent to Guantanamo Bay are linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, a criminal organization that originated in a Venezuelan prison.

The Venezuelan government criticized the detentions, calling them unjust and demanding the repatriation of its citizens. President Nicolás Maduro stated that the returnees were not criminals but individuals forced to leave Venezuela due to US sanctions, and he welcomed them back as a productive force for the country.

Although Trump officials have previously described Guantanamo Bay as a detention center for the “worst of the worst,” recent legal filings suggest that not all detainees are considered a high-level threat. DHS reported that 126 of the deportees had criminal records, with 80 allegedly linked to Tren de Aragua, while 51 had no criminal history.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, a group of Venezuelans shielded from deportation under humanitarian protections sued the Trump administration for revoking their status.

Earlier this month, the DHS terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for certain migrants, leaving approximately 600,000 people in uncertainty. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reversed an earlier decision by the Biden administration, meaning that protections for 350,000 Venezuelans will expire in April, with another 250,000 losing their status by September, making them vulnerable to deportation.

Mexican cartel leader faces U.S. judge, denies murder and kidnapping charges in 1985 DEA agent’s death.

Four decades after his alleged involvement in the kidnapping, torture, and murder of DEA Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena Salazar, Mexican drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero has been expelled from Mexico and appeared in a Brooklyn court on Friday.

Upon entering the courtroom, Caro Quintero pleaded not guilty to all charges. Notably, he was handcuffed with the same restraints once worn by Agent Camarena, according to a law enforcement official.

Considered the founder of the Guadalajara cartel, Caro Quintero was accused of orchestrating Camarena's 1985 abduction and execution, an incident later dramatized in the Netflix series "Narcos". The charges against him include leading a continuing criminal enterprise, murder conspiracy, international narcotics distribution, and unlawful firearm use in connection with drug trafficking.

According to John Durham, interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Caro Quintero used brutal violence to maintain control of his cartel, eliminating anyone who stood in his way, including ordering the torture and murder of Agent Camarena after the DEA raided one of his drug farms.

His attorney, Michael Vitaliano, informed the court that Caro Quintero has a heart condition and requires medical treatment.

He was one of several high-profile Mexican cartel leaders extradited to the U.S. on Thursday and is currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center, a facility known for housing notable inmates like Sean "Diddy" Combs and Ghislaine Maxwell. Prosecutors confirmed he was flown into the U.S. on a military plane late Thursday night.

Long-Awaited Justice for Agent Camarena

Assistant U.S. Attorney Saritha Komatireddy stated that after 40 years, Caro Quintero is finally in the U.S. to face justice. DEA Special Agent Frank Tarentino, head of the New York division, emphasized that the DEA’s mission is relentless and that no border or obstacle would prevent them from bringing criminals to justice.

Tarentino revealed he had spoken with Camarena’s son, Enrique Camarena Jr., now a San Diego judge, who expressed relief and gratitude that the case was finally moving forward.

Komatireddy noted that Caro Quintero spent years hiding in the jungles of Sinaloa, believing he could escape justice. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 26.

Judge Robert M. Levy clarified that Caro Quintero was expelled from Mexico under a national security provision, allowing his removal without the formal extradition process.

From Drug Trafficking to Capture

Caro Quintero previously served 28 years in a Mexican prison for his role in Camarena’s murder before being released on a technicality in 2013. However, the Mexican Supreme Court later overturned his release. Following his freedom, he resumed drug trafficking as a senior leader of the Sinaloa cartel, according to the FBI.

His arrest came in July 2022, when the Mexican Navy captured him during an operation that resulted in the deaths of 14 Marines after a helicopter crash. He was found hiding in bushes by a navy dog.

U.S.-Mexico Cooperation Leads to Cartel Leader Transfers

According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, President Trump directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) and State Department to prioritize Caro Quintero’s extradition. She described him as "one of the most ruthless cartel bosses in the world" and announced that the Trump administration was officially labeling the transferred cartel members as terrorists.

29 High-Profile Cartel Leaders Transferred to the U.S.

Mexican authorities confirmed that 29 cartel leaders from various correctional facilities were transferred to the United States. Among them was Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, the former leader of the Juárez Cartel, who also pleaded not guilty to murder conspiracy, cocaine distribution, and money laundering.

The DOJ reported that the transferred individuals were involved in major drug trafficking operations, including the Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG (Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación), Cártel del Noreste (formerly Los Zetas), La Nueva Familia Michoacana, and the Gulf Cartel.

Among those extradited were:

Martín Sotelo, accused of killing Deputy Sheriff Ned Byrd in North Carolina.
Antonio Oseguera Cervantes, alleged CJNG leader.
Two senior members of Los Zetas, Ramiro Pérez Moreno and Lucio Hernández Lechuga.

Justice Department's Commitment to Fighting Cartels

The DOJ described these cartel members as responsible for smuggling vast amounts of illegal drugs into the U.S., including cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin, along with committing acts of violence.

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed that these criminals would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law in honor of the law enforcement officers who lost their lives fighting cartels.

"As President Trump has declared, cartels are terrorist organizations, and this DOJ is committed to dismantling them," Bondi stated.

Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove emphasized that these extraditions reflect the U.S. government’s tough stance on cartels, adding that the White House negotiated from a position of strength to bring these criminals to justice.

Rising Egg Prices Lead to Increased Smuggling Attempts at US-Mexico Border

As egg prices continue to soar across the United States, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has reported a surge in attempts to smuggle eggs from Mexico.

According to the CBP San Diego Field Office, there has been a 158% increase in egg interceptions since the start of the 2024 fiscal year. A CBP spokesperson told CNN that the number of eggs detained at border entry points has risen 29% compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year (October 2023 – February 2024).

The dramatic rise in egg prices is largely attributed to a resurgence of avian flu that has devastated poultry farms. The outbreak, which first struck in 2022, has impacted around 166 million birds over the past three years, according to the US Agriculture Department. The ongoing crisis has led to record-breaking egg prices, frustrating consumers who once purchased this dietary staple for just a few dollars.

Sidney Aki, CBP’s director of field operations in San Diego, emphasized the importance of keeping the public informed to protect the agricultural industry while ensuring legal trade and travel continue smoothly.

San Diego resident Johnny Williams, speaking near the Mexico border, recounted witnessing a man attempting to bring 24 eggs into the US, only to have them confiscated by CBP agents. Expressing frustration over the situation, Williams said, “I really think it’s an exaggeration with the egg prices in the US.”

Meanwhile, in El Paso, Texas, CBP agents recently seized 64 pounds of methamphetamine and issued 16 civil penalties totaling nearly $4,000 for attempted smuggling of banned agricultural products, including raw eggs.

Officials continue to remind the public that importing raw eggs, live birds, or raw chicken is prohibited. The CBP Laredo Field Office recently released a video warning travelers about potential fines of up to $10,000 for failing to declare agricultural products at border crossings.

Government Response to the Crisis

As consumers grapple with sky-high egg prices, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a $1 billion investment plan aimed at stabilizing the market. However, she acknowledged in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that these efforts "won’t erase the problem overnight." Instead, she predicted it would take three to six months before egg prices begin to normalize.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average cost of a dozen eggs in January reached $4.95, nearly double the price from a year earlier, breaking previous record highs.